Best Dakgalbi in Penang

Located on the first floor of Vantage Desiran Tanjung, this charming restaurant never fails to draw a steady stream of Korean food aficionados. As per the name, the jewel in the crown here is their dakgalbi. Generously stacked in a hot pan with a handful of chicken thigh chunks, cabbage, Korean rice cakes, sweet potatoes and addictive red sauce. Do not fret if you’re not into cooking as the attentive staffs will be right next to assist you. Looking at the luscious meats shrivel with the heap of ingredients sets your hunger pangs rolling. Jazz up the sizzling dish with add-ons like Kimchi Fried Rice, Ramen and Udon, and the temptation triumph – gooey cheese. Chopstick licking experience guaranteed.  

More and more Korean joints are mushrooming all over the island but speaking off rivalry, it does get better than this. Uncle Jang is located at Vantage Desiran Tanjung, where Chun Cheon Dakgalbi resides too. Food War Asia, this one is for you! Either lashed with tear-jerking spicy sauce or settling with the original, chomping down dakgalbi is a must here. Huge skillet is filled to the brim with regular suspects and a standout here is the gochujang-marinated chicken slices which have the ideal symmetry of sweet, spicy and salty. Wash down the heat and meat with their Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup. 

Housed in Elite Avenue, Jinggo Dakgalbi is fairly a newcomer yet has made quite a storm in the Korean food scene. The instant mood lifting interior and alluring aroma that permeates throughout the air will be your welcome reward. If chicken meat isn’t wowing your taste buds anymore and you’re keen for varieties, you’re definitely in safe hands. Apart from the regular chicken dakgalbi, patrons can flood the scorching skillet with pork meat or fresh seafood. A little tweak is basil leaves joins the row of condiments to enhance your chomping experience. Do yourself a favour, wear stretchy pants and devour to your heart’s content.

Just a short stroll away from Union Primary School, one can easily spot a revamped colonial bungalow. The façade and interior are rather more casual and homey, unlike typical Korean restaurants yet the kitchen holds nothing back in churning out a range of authentic Korean delicacies. Among the best sellers is their dakgalbi – dices of marinated chicken, cabbages, onions, sweet potatoes, rice cake and homemade red chilli sauce round off a meal that is nothing short of excellence. To balance up the heat scale and adding a layer of joy, be sure of scattering handful of cheese atop the meaty bed. 

Perched atop Suria at Tanjung Tokong, Myeong Dong Dakgalbi has been nabbing accolades as one of the finest places to quell your Korean food craving without breaking the bank. Especially on weekends, the never-ending crowd is a dead giveaway that you should be ogling for an empty table too. As per the name, the real standout here is their dakgalbi which comes in two variants, seafood or chicken. No matter which side you prefer to lean, the flavours are sure to rock your socks off.